Surplus production of tomatoes in Pollachi and nearby areas in the district has resulted in the vegetable becoming fodder to animals and manure for coconut trees.

The tomato yield was very high in Negamam, Kattoor, Samathur, Kinathukadavu and nearby villages, which brought down the prices to rock bottom, selling at Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 per kg in Coimbatore and bigger markets, sources in the farmer’s association said.

Moreover, the crops from nearby Tirupur and Dindigul districts and arrivals from Karnataka also affected the local farmers, which led to them not even getting the cost of production. As a result, the farmers let their cows and other animals graze on tomato crops, leading to heavy losses, they said.

It was also not feasible to engage labourers to pluck tomatoes and send the yield to markets as farmers were not getting remunerative prices anywhere in the State. Some farmers were using their over-production as manure for coconut and other trees, the sources said.

The sudden rains in the middle of the season had resulted in this over-production.